Trip from Houston, TX to Killeen, TX

Drive Time

3h 56m

Distance

199.5 mi

321 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$30

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Houston, TX

Trace Hudson

Killeen, TX

Jeff Stapleton

Trip Overview

Traveling from Houston to Killeen covers 199.5 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 56 minutes. You will start by navigating through local city streets like Franklin and Travis before transitioning onto I-45 North. Because the total duration is under four hours, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. Budgeting around $30 for fuel should cover your needs for the journey. Since both cities are located within the Great Plains region of Texas, you can expect a consistent environmental feel throughout your travel. It is a straightforward trip that balances urban navigation with a steady trek toward your destination.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

99.8 miles from Houston, TX

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a mindless highway cruise, as the route requires careful navigation through city streets early on. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be spending your time on long, monotonous stretches of interstate. The longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles while you are navigating Franklin Street, emphasizing the need for focus during the initial portion of your trip. As you move away from the city center, the road dynamics shift, demanding your full attention behind the wheel. This is a hands-on driving experience that rewards drivers who stay alert through the various turns and local transitions.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

TX 6 is the longest continuous segment at about 49.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on TX 6 and Aggie Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Franklin Street.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 199.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Franklin Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.2 miles (Travis Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 9.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | Franklin Street

Turn right onto Franklin Street

Navigation decision point

0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Travis Street

Turn left onto Travis Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.

9.7 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward TX 249

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 57B Toward TX 249

180.9 mi into trip | ~3h 34m in | I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 14; US 190 / Central Texas Expressway toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos

194 mi into trip | ~3h 48m in

Take the exit toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 287 Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter...

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Houston, TX to Killeen, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Cavazos along the way.

Fort Cavazos

180.9 mi in | ~3h 34m | via I 14; US 190

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
TX 6	49.8 mi	53m
Aggie Expressway	24.8 mi	27m
Farm-to-Market Road 485	20.4 mi	25m
Farm-to-Market Road 979	15.3 mi	19m
TX 53	13.1 mi	16m
Central Texas Expressway	13.1 mi	13m
Tomball Parkway	12.3 mi	15m
North Freeway	8.3 mi	10m

Longest stretch: TX 6 — 49.8 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Houston, TX and Killeen, TX.

Start on Louisiana Street

474 ft · 19 sec · Louisiana Street

Use the straight / left / none lanes.

Turn right onto Franklin Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Franklin Street

Turn left onto Travis Street

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Travis Street

Use the none lane.

Take the ramp

1.0 mi · 2 min

Toward I 45 North Express Lane

Merge onto I 45

8.3 mi · 10 min · North Freeway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 57B Toward TX 249 Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto North Freeway Frontage Road

0.4 mi · 39 sec · North Freeway Frontage Road

Use the none lane.

Turn left onto TX 249

2.9 mi · 4 min · West Mount Houston Road

Use the straight / left / none lanes.

Continue on TX 249

3.8 mi · 6 min · Tomball Parkway

Use the none lane.

Continue on TX 249

8.4 mi · 9 min · Tomball Parkway

Use the none lane.

Continue on TBT

7.3 mi · 8 min · Tomball Tollway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 249 Toll

3.6 mi · 4 min · MCTRA 249 Tollway

Use the none lane.

Continue on TX 249 Toll

25 mi · 27 min · Aggie Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on TX 105

5.8 mi · 6 min · State Highway 105

Turn right onto TX 105

0.2 mi · 16 sec · State Highway 6

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Merge onto TX 6

50 mi · 53 min · TX 6

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto TX 6

5.8 mi · 5 min · North State Highway 6

Continue on TX 6

1.3 mi · 2 min · South Main Street

Turn left onto FM 979

0.7 mi · 1 min · Browning Street

Continue on FM 979

15 mi · 19 min · Farm-to-Market Road 979

At end of road, turn right onto FM 485

20 mi · 25 min · Farm-to-Market Road 485

At end of road, turn left onto TX 53

13 mi · 16 min · TX 53

Turn left onto North General Bruce Drive

0.2 mi · 20 sec · North General Bruce Drive

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward I 35 South

Merge onto I 35

7.1 mi · 7 min · Purple Heart Trail

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 14; US 190

13 mi · 13 min · Central Texas Expressway

Toward US 190 West: Killeen, Fort Cavazos Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 32 sec

Exit 287 Toward FM 3470: Rosewood Drive, Stan Schlueter Loop Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto West Central Texas Expressway

2.9 mi · 3 min · West Central Texas Expressway

Turn right onto South W.S. Young Drive

1.3 mi · 2 min · South W.S. Young Drive

Turn left onto US 190 Bus

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Veterans Memorial Boulevard

Turn right

83 ft · 8 sec

Turn right

74 ft · 5 sec

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

To make the most of this nearly four-hour drive, try to depart early in the morning to avoid the heaviest congestion on local streets. Since the trip is relatively short, you have the flexibility to power through in one go or take your planned stop whenever you feel like stretching your legs. Keep a close eye on your navigation while moving through the initial turn-heavy sections to ensure you stay on track. Budgeting your $30 for fuel is best done before you leave the city limits to ensure a smooth transition onto the main roads. Remember that because this is a local-heavy route, your pace will be dictated by traffic flow rather than open-road speed limits.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 99.8 miles from Houston, TX, or about 1h 57m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 49.8 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles or 1h 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 99.8 miles or 1h 57m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 13m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Killeen, TX than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Houston, TX so your first major turns are already loaded.

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Houston, TX

This is one driving day of about 199.5 miles and 3h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Houston, TX.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on TX 6 for about 49.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 99.8 mi from Houston, TX · 1h 57m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

College Station, TX

100 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

College Station, TX

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

College Station, TX

Meal break

The midpoint is around 99.8 miles from Houston, TX, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Killeen, TX

The final approach into Killeen, TX usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Killeen, TX.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.47 one way

$60.95 round trip

$3.88/gal 25.4 MPG avg 70 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$33.40	$66.79
premium	$4.59	$36.06	$72.12
diesel	$5.64	$44.32	$88.64

Estimated Tolls: $0.76

Tomball Tollway (7.3 mi) $0.51

MCTRA 249 Tollway (3.6 mi) $0.25

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$30

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 69.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	59.8	$20.95	$9.58
Efficient EV	49.9	$17.46	$7.98
EV Truck/SUV	79.8	$27.93	$12.77

Gas CO2

70 kg

EV CO2

23 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Houston, TX

Afternoon in Houston on Sunday

Local time

2:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Killeen, TX

Afternoon in Killeen on Sunday

Local time

2:28 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

10 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 56m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Houston, TX to Killeen, TX covers 199.5 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are TX 6, Aggie Expressway, Farm-to-Market Road 485. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 99.8 miles from Houston, TX. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.47 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

On the drive from Houston, TX to Killeen, TX, road signs begin pointing toward Fort Cavazos along the way.

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Return Trip

Killeen, TX to Houston, TX

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197.2 mi 3h 56m

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Trip from Houston, TX to Killeen, TX

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Killeen, TX

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Houston, TX

Killeen, TX

Same local time

10 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 56m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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